SEN Teaching Assistant (SEMH)

SEN Teaching Assistant (SEMH)
Location: Lambeth, London, SE11
Pay: £90–£100 per day
Contract: Full-time, long-term temporary
Start date: 1 September 2026
Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Higher rates are available for candidates with extensive experience and relevant training. Pay is determined in line with Agency Worker Regulations (AWR), where applicable.

Transparency Education is recruiting a resilient and compassionate SEMH Teaching Assistant for a long-term role within a primary school in Lambeth.
The successful candidate will support pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs who may display challenging behaviour, difficulty regulating emotions, low self-esteem, anxiety, school avoidance or barriers to learning.

You will work closely with individual pupils and small groups, helping them feel safe, understood and ready to engage with education. This is a highly rewarding opportunity for someone who can combine empathy and patience with clear boundaries, consistency and confidence.

The role would suit an experienced behaviour mentor, SEN teaching assistant, youth worker, pastoral support worker or someone with relevant experience in alternative provision, care, mental health, psychology or therapeutic support.

Your impact
You will work alongside teachers, the Special Educational Needs Coordinator, pastoral staff and other professionals to provide structured and consistent support.

Your responsibilities may include:
• Providing one-to-one and small-group support for pupils with SEMH and behavioural needs
• Building positive, trusting and professional relationships with pupils
• Helping pupils identify emotions, triggers and appropriate coping strategies
• Supporting pupils to regulate their behaviour and return to learning
• Using calm, consistent and trauma-informed approaches
• Implementing behaviour support plans, risk assessments and individual learning plans
• Supporting pupils during periods of anxiety, distress or dysregulation
• De-escalating challenging situations safely and appropriately
• Reinforcing clear routines, expectations and boundaries
• Encouraging positive choices, resilience and greater independence
• Supporting pupils during lessons, transitions, breaktimes and lunchtimes
• Delivering targeted interventions focused on emotional literacy, social skills and self-regulation

Pupils may present with a range of needs, including anxiety, trauma-related behaviours, ADHD, attachment difficulties, emotional dysregulation, low confidence, social difficulties or disrupted educational experiences.

Some pupils may display verbal or physical behaviours that challenge. Applicants must therefore be confident maintaining professional boundaries and responding calmly under pressure.

Skills and experience
We are particularly interested in applicants who have:
• Experience supporting children or young people with SEMH or behavioural needs
• A calm, resilient and emotionally consistent approach
• The ability to build rapport without compromising professional boundaries
• Confidence responding to challenging or distressed behaviour
• An understanding of behaviour as a form of communication
• The ability to use de-escalation and restorative approaches
• Strong observation, communication and record-keeping skills
• An understanding of trauma-informed or attachment-aware practice
• The ability to follow behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures
• Confidence working collaboratively with teachers, pastoral staff and external professionals

Why work via Transparency Education?

Transparency Education are a widely recognised, education recruitment company. We pride ourselves on our high levels of customer service and professional development that we offer our teachers and support staff. We:

• Ensure that you will have your own dedicated consultant who will provide ongoing support and guidance.
• Offer an excellent ‘refer a friend’ scheme that pays you £150 for each candidate you refer to us after they have worked and been paid for their first 10 days.
• Pay in line with the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) meaning you will be paid equally to a permanent employee.
• Give you access to a wide range of CPD training through our in-house team of experienced senior leaders

Application Process: Do you feel you meet the criteria for this exciting opportunity? If so, please either apply below or contact us directly. All applicants will require the appropriate qualification and training for this role. For teacher roles, we require a formally recognised teaching qualification. If you are not contacted within 2 working days, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful for this role. However, we will keep your CV and continue to help you in your search for a job within education. Good luck with your application, we look forward to hearing from you.

Transparency Education operates stringent safer recruitment procedures.

We are committed to promoting equality and challenging discrimination. Transparency Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Clearance.